Student Support Services
SDFS - Prevention Ideas for
Parents
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What Can Increase the Risk of an Adolescent Developing a Drug or
Alcohol Problem ?
- Early age of first use.
- Feeling unloved by family, low mutual attachment with parents, ineffective
parenting.
- Chaotic home environment.
- Poor social coping skills.
- Perceived external approval of drug use (peers,
family, community).
- Affiliation with deviant peers.
- Working at a job or having above-average
disposable income.
- Past or current drug or alcohol problems
within the family.
- Past or current family emotional or physical
abuse or neglect (especially depression).
- Past or current sexual
abuse.
- Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
What Can Reduce the Risk of an Adolescent Developing a Drug or
Alcohol problem?
- Feeling connected with and valued by family and other significant
adults.
- Parental supervision and involvement with child's activities.
- High educational aspirations of parents and child.
- Academic success.
- Feeling connected with school and valuing academic achievement.
- Strong bonds with social institutions (school, community, faith).
- Personal disapproval of drug and alcohol use.
- Personal belief that drug and alcohol use is dangerous and harmful.
- Having parents who verbalize expectations about and consequences
for using alcohol and other drugs.
Falkowski, Carol. “Dangerous rugs: And Easy-to-Use Reference for
Parents and Professionals.” Center City , MN : Halzeden, 2000
Prevention Ideas for Parents
- Discuss with your child your expectations, rules, and consequences…ALWAYS
FOLLOW THROUGH!
- Talk to your child about what they do, where they
are going and whom they are going to be with. Know your child's
friends.
- Call the parents at the home where your child is going
to be.
- Greet your child when they return home...smell their breath,
check their eyes, check their behaviors.
- Monitor all internet
use by your child and their friends when at your home. Set
rules and limits.
- Monitor how much money they have and what it is spent
on. If they have a job, encourage starting a savings account.
- Keep in contact with the school (teachers ad counselors);
follow up on any change in behavior, school performance, or
change in friends.
- If you have any suspicions, check your child's room,
pockets, bags, etc. Do not allow locks on bedroom doors.
- If contacted by the school with substance use concerns about your child, be open to what they say, work with them and know that they're trying to help keep your child safe and drug free.
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